Early Dallas Christmas Gift: Eli May Be Done

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Despite their 8-3 record and commanding lead of their division, there’s been a palpable nervousness about this Cowboys outfit coming into a stretch run of difficult opponents at a time of year where, at least recently, they have been known to fold. But perhaps these Dallas Cowboys are a more charmed outfit than in year’s past, because they may go into Sunday’s game at the Meadowlands without having to face Eli Manning, whose nagging foot injury has become decidedly more serious. From the New York Daily News:

Eli Manning's injured right heel has gotten worse, and if that trend continues, the Giants might have to consider shutting him down.

The Giants' $106.9 million quarterback has a "stress reaction" on a bone in his right foot, according to multiple team sources, which puts him in danger of suffering a stress fracture. If that happens, the injury would almost certainly end his season.

Manning is still expected to start against the Cowboys, but the foot injury could flare up at any moment, causing him to give way to the always sackable David Carr. Even if Manning can make it through the game, this isn’t the same QB the Cowboys saw in Week 2, who drove the Giants for a game-winning field goal right at the very end, and who seemingly completed every pass that bounced off the foot of a Cowboys defender. That version of Eli has been replaced by a much less effective version, and is at least part of the reason the Giants come into this game having lost five of their last six.

So sharpen your knives, DeMArcus Ware and company. Sunday could be quite the post-Thanksgiving feast.